silk

Universal Words noun 1 [U] fine soft thread produced by SILKWORMS 2 [U] a fine smooth fabric made from silk thread: a silk blouse * silk stockings * made of pure silk * Her skin was as smooth as silk. seealsoWATEREDSILK 3 [U] silk thread used for sewing 4 (silks) [pl.] clothes made of silk, especially the coloured shirts worn by people riding horses in a race (= JOCKEYS) 5 [C] (BrE, law) a type of lawyer who represents the government (= a King's/Queen's counsel): to take silk (= to become this type of lawyer) IDIOMS make a silk purse out of a sow's ear to succeed in making sth good out of material that does not seem very good at all